(Re)materialised

Overlooked Materials

(Re)materialised is an exhibition that deconstructs conventional perceptions of materials and proposes new narratives. It begins by questioning how materials have traditionally been valued and understood. Elements once considered flaws, often hidden or avoided, are revealed here as aesthetics. Cracks in clay, the use of wet moulds traditionally excluded from ceramic practice, and discarded cardboard boxes are highlighted as essential material qualities. Through this approach, the exhibition dismantles the conventional relationship between material and design, inviting audiences to imagine how materials can convey sensations and stories beyond their functional roles. Within the experimental context of Dutch Design Week, this exploration encourages visitors to reconsider materials and discover new perspectives.

Experimental Methods

The exhibition unfolds through three projects that follow distinct approaches while remaining closely connected. Yeeun intentionally works with dried clay, normally avoided in ceramics, to expose and control cracks, transforming them into deliberate patterns on the surface of cylindrical vases. Haejune reintroduces the “wet mould,” typically excluded from ceramic casting, to develop her own method. By subtly varying the thickness of porcelain, she creates objects that reveal delicate patterns of translucency when illuminated, presented as a suspended mobile. Euna takes the cardboard boxes accumulated through repeated moves as her starting point. Once a symbol of instability and impermanence, the box is reshaped into sturdy, stone-like furniture. The pieces reflect her wish to find a sense of stability. Together, the three projects challenge conventional rules, turning neglected or rejected aspects into new aesthetics and values.

Reconstructed Narratives

Bringing these three approaches together, (Re)materialised  reconstructs both materials and narratives. Each project begins by deconstructing conventional methods or perceptions and, through experimentation, builds a new design language rooted in the inherent qualities of the material. The exhibition goes beyond physical objects to reconsider our relationship with materials and propose new possibilities of interpretation. Here, cracks are seen as beauty rather than flaws, rejection turns into potential, and instability transforms into stability. Through this lens, visitors are invited to reflect on the meanings they have long taken for granted and to uncover hidden stories within the objects that surround them. Ultimately, (Re)materialised offers the experience of seeing the familiar in a new way and discovering fresh possibilities in what has long been overlooked.